Jack didn’t push forward immediately.
After the fight, that would have been a mistake.
He stepped to the side of the chamber instead, putting his back near the wall where nothing could approach unseen. The space felt different now—not safe, but cleared. The pressure that had been anchored here was gone.
Good enough.
He lowered himself into a seated position and finally gave proper attention to his condition.
The damage was worse than before.
Multiple cuts, some shallow, some deeper. Blood had slowed but not fully stopped in a few places. The earlier bandages had been partially torn during the fight, and the impact from the guardian had reopened more than one wound.
He pulled up his status.
[STATUS]
Name: Jack Reed
Level: 7
Race: Human (F-Grade)
Class: Bloodborne Warrior (F-Grade)
Profession: None
Titles: None
Health (HP): 76 / 200
Stamina (SP): 182 / 200
Energy (MP): 20 / 20
Attributes:
Strength: 16
Agility: 15
Vitality: 15
Endurance: 12
Perception: 11
Intelligence: 10
Wisdom: 10
Luck: 10
Free Attribute Points: 9
Jack looked over the numbers carefully.
Three levels gained from the fight.
Nine free points.
Consistent.
Three per level.
That part was clear.
But the base attributes had also increased.
Not from allocation.
From leveling itself.
He ran through it quickly.
At level one, everything had been at ten.
Now—
Strength, agility, vitality, endurance, perception—all had increased beyond that baseline even before accounting for his manual allocation.
So there were two sources of growth.
Level-based gains.
And free allocation.
He leaned back slightly against the wall, thinking it through.
Race.
Class.
Both F-Grade.
Which meant—
The increase per level wasn’t random.
It was structured.
Physical attributes had increased more than mental ones.
That matched the class.
Bloodborne Warrior.
Close combat.
Durability.
Sustain.
Intelligence, wisdom, luck—unchanged.
No investment there.
No passive growth either.
Expected.
Jack exhaled once.
“…Alright.”
That meant optimization mattered.
If the system already favored physical growth, then stacking into the same direction would compound it faster.
He looked at the free points again.
Nine.
This time, the decision took slightly longer.
The last fight replayed in his head.
Where he had taken damage.
Where he had struggled.
Where the difference had been.
Strength had helped.
Agility had kept him alive.
But—
Vitality had been the limiting factor.
Blood loss.
Recovery.
Sustain.
That had nearly cost him.
He made the decision.
Four points into Vitality.
Three into Strength.
Two into Agility.
The interface updated.
Vitality: 19
Strength: 19
Agility: 17
The change settled into his body immediately.
Subtle.
But noticeable.
The lingering weakness from blood loss eased slightly. Not gone, but reduced. His breathing stabilized faster. The strain from the previous fight didn’t feel as heavy.
Better.
Not safe.
But better.
He closed the interface.
Then finished securing his bandages properly, tightening them where needed and adjusting his armor back into place.
Functional again.
That was enough.
Jack stood.
The scythe felt natural in his hands now.
Not perfect.
But close enough.
The longer reach changed his spacing. Less need to step fully inside an attack. More control over distance.
Good.
He rolled his shoulders once, testing movement.
No instability.
Then he extended Blood Sense outward again.
Deeper this time.
Clearer.
The signals ahead were stronger.
Not clustered like before.
Defined.
Territorial.
He focused.
“Identify.”
No direct target yet.
Just range.
Just distance.
That was fine.
He didn’t rush.
There was no reason to.
The dungeon wasn’t going anywhere.
And neither was what waited inside it.
He moved forward.
Slow.
Controlled.
Each step deliberate.
The corridor narrowed again before opening into another section, this one less structured than the last chamber. The ground was uneven, broken in places where the surface dipped sharply, creating blind angles if approached carelessly.
Jack adjusted his path slightly, keeping to the edges where visibility was better.
One signal ahead.
Stronger than the hounds.
Weaker than the guardian.
Middle tier.
Good.
He stepped into view.
The creature reacted immediately.
Different again.
Longer limbs. Leaner frame. Faster.
Jack didn’t hesitate.
Sanguine Surge activated.
This time—
Controlled.
Not overcommitted.
He stepped into range, the scythe cutting in a wide arc instead of a direct thrust.
The difference was immediate.
The blade caught across the creature’s side, deeper than his previous weapon would have managed. The reach kept him just outside its full counterattack range.
Better.
The creature lunged.
Jack adjusted.
Pulled back half a step.
Then cut again.
The rhythm changed.
Less trading.
More control.
The fight ended faster than expected.
Cleaner.
More efficient.
The bleed effect took hold immediately, the creature weakening with each movement until it collapsed.
Jack stepped back.
Breathing steady.
No unnecessary strain.
“…Yeah.”
That worked.
The notification appeared.
[You have defeated: Tunnel Stalker (Lv.5)]
[Experience Gained]
He dismissed it.
No need to check.
Not yet.
Jack continued forward.
Slowly.
No rushing.
No wasted movement.
The dungeon deepened.
The pressure built again.
And this time—
He was ready for it.